Nestlé centralizes expertise in system technology

Mar 25, 2013

Nestlé has led the way in beverage systems for more than 25 years

Nestlé centralizes expertise in system technology

Nestlé has marked the official opening of a new System Technology Center (STC) in Switzerland that brings together on one site the expertise used to combine products, capsules and machines such as those used in its
Nespresso
and
Nescafé Dolce Gusto
beverage systems.

More than 120 experts from 25 countries specialized in fields including industrial design, machine technology, packaging, engineering, micro-electronics and robotics are now working at the center in the Swiss town of Orbe, leading Nestlé’s efforts to design and develop integrated products, systems and services.

“We went on to develop the hot and cold multi-beverage system
Nescafé Dolce Gusto
and many other innovations including
Nescafé Barista
, the only in-home single-serve coffee system of its kind using soluble coffee.”

Latest innovation
The premium
Nescafé Milano Lounge
system, the latest innovation from the STC, was unveiled at the STC opening ceremony in Orbe.

The system offers a wide range of hot and cold beverages including cappuccino, latte or gourmet hot chocolate.

Consumers can use its interactive color touch screen to choose either skimmed or semi-skilled milk, select the strength of their coffee and opt for different cup sizes.

The system, which has been developed for
Nestlé Professional
, the company’s business that supplies the foodservice out-of-home sector, is designed to allow a broad range of foodservice operators to compete in the fast-growing, self-service, on-the-go, specialty coffee category.

Mr. Bauer and Mr. Bulcke were joined at the event by Marc Caira, Head of Nestlé Professional, Philippe Leuba, State Councilor of the Swiss canton of Vaud, and Claude Recordon, Mayor of Orbe.

Global network
The Nestlé System Technology Center in Orbe is currently working for six of the company’s businesses:
Nespresso
,
Nescafé Dolce Gusto
,
Special.T,
Nestlé Professional,
Nescafé Barista
and
BabyNes
.

It will provide research and development for these businesses, as well as identifying new opportunities.

Nestlé Product Technology Centers (PTC) develop innovative technologies and manufacturing processes that are the basis of new product development, and implement these technologies to the company’s operations.

The experts at the STC will work closely with Nestlé’s PTC in Orbe, which is the company’s reference center for products and technologies in coffee and cereals, for both in and out-of-home.

Nestlé has developed new business models and routes-to-market to support its system innovations.

From
Nespresso’s
boutiques and members club, to the 24-hour advice
BabyNes
offers via its websites and hotline, the company’s systems are designed to provide consumers with a complete service.

Nestlé in Orbe
The STC is Nestlé’s latest addition to its Orbe site, which has long played an important role in supporting innovation at the company.

In 1938, Nestlé set up a large-scale production line at the site for coffee extraction and for ‘spray drying’ coffee beans to produce
Nescaf
é, the world’s first soluble coffee product. It followed this innovation in 1965 with
Nescafé Gold Blend
, the first freeze-dried soluble coffee.

Nestlé opened its Product Technology Center in Orbe in 1959. It later chose the site as the location for its first-ever
Nespresso
factory.